Jo's husband, Friedrich Bhaer, has died, and everyone expects Jo to close the school. When she hires sailor Nick Riley as caretaker for the grounds, things begin to change.

A student brings a case of the measles back to Plumfield, so the doctor quarantines the school.

Amy reluctantly agrees to send her daughter to Plumfield after Jo enrolls the school's first girl, and Nick plans on returning to the sea.

Dan is overjoyed when a friend from Boston shows up at Plumfield, but Nat is none too thrilled.

When Nat discovers a poor black family camping within the Plumfield grounds, everyone learns that prejudice can take many forms.

While out looking for the perfect Christmas tree, Nick and the boys come upon a severely injured woman. Everyone pitches in to help her, but also struggle with their first Christmas without Mr. Bhaer and certain loved ones.

Laurie donates a library's-worth of books to Plumfield, which inspires Franz to assign a project on philanthropy and reveals Nick's illiteracy. In the meantime, Jo's beloved horse falls ill, and chances of recovery look grim.

Laurie takes a fancy to poker and Nan steals ideas from Nat for their creative writing assignment.

Meg is taken with an associate of Laurie's while Dan and Bess are at each other's throats as they're paired up for a science project.

Jo's carriage breaks down, stranding her in an upcoming storm. Nick goes out in search of her, leaving Franz in charge of the children.

Asia's father arrives in Concord for an unbidden reunion while Nick takes a temporary job at the Mr. Gerson's general store, where he finds some unbidden attention of his own

Nat asks Nick to enter a father-son ski tournament with him, so Jo must teach Nick how to ski. Laurie offers to be Dan's father for the day, which gives Nan an interesting idea.

Amy commandeers Plumfield for an evening in order to impress a high society lady while Dan goes on a vision-quest to find his identity.